Igniting Change
Igniting Change Foundation is an Australian non-profit charity that connects marginalised people and 38 grassroots community organisations with donors and storytellers, funded by family foundations, HNWIs (including Sir Richard Branson), and a small A$10–A$30 merchandise line of books and notebooks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Igniting Change does
Igniting Change Foundation (ABN 83 095 045 533) is an Australian non-profit charitable foundation registered and headquartered at Unit 12, 285 Carlisle Street, Balaclava, Victoria. Founded by Jane Tewson — who co-founded Comic Relief (Red Nose Day), founded Timebank, and founded Pilotlight UK and Pilotlight Australia — the organisation describes itself as a 'deliberately tiny charity' with 11 employees that supports approximately 38 community organisations working on difficult, often under-funded social issues such as asylum seekers, mental health legal advocacy, trans and gender diverse support, palliative care, and First Nations community-led approaches.
The core operational model is twofold: (1) acting as a connector and amplifier that pairs marginalised individuals and grassroots community organisations with donors, storytellers, and high-profile supporters including Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite; and (2) operating a small e-commerce merchandise line that generates supplementary revenue for the supported organisations. The merchandise line consists of five SKUs priced at A$10–A$30: the Take Note notebook (a 140-page notebook with QR codes to a digital storytelling platform), the Symbol of Hope charm bracelet (handmade in Cambodia from upcycled landmine materials), and three books — Dying To Know (2008), Small Ways to Shape Our World, and The Art of Pollination by Martin Flanagan. Distribution is Australia-only via the website's Squarespace-hosted storefront, with international shipping only by special arrangement.
There is no disclosed technology platform, proprietary software, or AI/ML capability; the organisation is content- and relationship-led, relying on the Igniting Change Podcast hosted by Celia Hirsh, YouTube documentary content, and word-of-mouth through its donor and partner network. Income derives from a mix of family-foundation grants (Lightfolk, Snow, Spotlight, English, Bassat, Benjamin Duncan, Hibou Holdings, Swann foundations), high-net-worth individual donors, and merchandise sales. The entity has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds. Governance is provided by a Board chaired by Radek Sali (former CEO of Swisse Wellness) with Jane Tewson as Founder/Director.
Igniting Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Igniting Change
- Legal name
- Igniting Change Foundation
- Website
- https://ignitingchange.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Igniting Change Foundation is an Australian non-profit charity that connects marginalised people and 38 grassroots community organisations with donors and storytellers, funded by family foundations, HNWIs (including Sir Richard Branson), and a small A$10–A$30 merchandise line of books and notebooks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Igniting Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Igniting Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail merchandise sales: Igniting Change operates an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including notebooks, books, and jewellery. Products are priced at $10-$30, with bulk ordering available via order form for quantities exceeding 20-100 units depending on product.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Take Note notebook - $10.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Symbol of Hope charm bracelet - $30.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dying To Know book - $10.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small Ways to Shape Our World - $10.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Art of Pollination book - $10.00 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Igniting Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Igniting Change is a deliberately small Australian charity that supports 38 community organisations tackling injustice, inequality and disadvantage by amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. It generates revenue through an online store selling branded merchandise (books, notebooks and handmade jewellery), with proceeds supporting its charitable work. The organisation also runs the Igniting Change Podcast hosted by Celia Hirsh and an Online Visits Program that bridges the gap between people experiencing problems and those who can help.
Product overview
Igniting Change is a deliberately tiny Australian charity offering a portfolio of products and services focused on social change. The core offerings include five retail products: the Take Note notebook ($10), Symbol of Hope charm bracelet ($30), and three books - Dying To Know ($10), Small Ways to Shape Our World ($10), and The Art of Pollination ($10). These are sold through their online store and all proceeds support their charitable work. Additionally, they provide the Igniting Change Podcast and an Online Visits Program. The organization works with approximately 38 community organizations, supporting causes related to social justice, inequality, mental health, and community support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Take Note notebook
Quantifiable outcome
- 350,000 copies distributed of Change the World for Ten Bucks book
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Igniting Change
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Igniting Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Igniting Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- AusmedminorListed as an 'Igniter' supporter providing financial or other support to Igniting Change.
- Emma BackhouseminorListed as an 'Igniter' supporter providing financial or other support to Igniting Change.
- Suzi CarpminorListed as a supporter providing financial or other support.
- Virgin UniteflagshipJane Tewson serves as Trustee of Virgin Unite Australia. Active strategic partnership in social change initiatives.
- AfricausecoreCommunity organisation working alongside Igniting Change addressing African community issues.
- Asylum Seeker Resource CentrecoreMajor community organisation providing support to asylum seekers, working with Igniting Change.
- Bridge ItcoreCommunity organisation supported by Igniting Change. Jane Tewson is Non-Executive Director.
- Children's GroundcoreCommunity organisation working to end intergenerational disadvantage, supported by Igniting Change.
- Cabrini OutreachcoreHealthcare community outreach organisation working with Igniting Change.
- Mental Health Legal CentrecoreLegal organisation providing mental health advocacy, working with Igniting Change.
- Mirabel FoundationcoreCommunity organisation supporting children affected by parental drug use, partnered with Igniting Change.
- St Kilda GatehousecoreCommunity organisation supporting women involved in the sex industry, supported by Igniting Change.
- Transcend AustraliacoreCommunity organisation supporting trans and gender diverse people, working with Igniting Change.
- TBWA MelbourneminorCreative agency credited as inspiration for the website design. Listed as a supporter.
- HERO AgencyminorCreative agency that donated time and skill to create the Take Note notebook. Listed as a supporter.
- Light WarriorminorCompany founded by Radek Sali, Chair of Igniting Change. Listed as a supporter.
- WanderlustminorCompany with executive chairman Radek Sali. Listed as a supporter.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Igniting Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Beyond Blue: Major Australian mental health advocacy charity that similarly relies on awareness campaigns, storytelling, and a network of partner organizations to deliver social impact.
- ReachOut Australia: Australian digital mental health service for young people; comparable in mission-adjacent focus (youth disadvantage) and donor-supported non-profit model.
- RUOK?: Australian non-profit using storytelling and high-profile supporters to drive awareness around mental health, sharing Igniting Change's approach of amplifying voices through narrative-led campaigns.
Direct peers
- OzHarvest: Australian charity using innovative fundraising (rescuing and redistributing food) to address disadvantage, with strong brand recognition and a similar story-driven, founder-led character.
- Pilotlight Australia: Also founded by Jane Tewson, Pilotlight pairs business leaders with charities to build capacity - the same 'support community organizations tackling tough issues' model Igniting Change runs. It is the closest structural analog.
- Comic Relief (UK): Co-founded by Jane Tewson, Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) operates the same playbook at scale: storytelling, merchandise, books, and celebrity-led campaigns to fund community organizations tackling disadvantage.
Broad incumbents
- Australian Red Cross: Large Australian humanitarian charity addressing vulnerability and disadvantage - a broader-scale analog with comparable human-services mission, retail fundraising, and volunteer-driven community programs.
- The Smith Family: Large established Australian children's charity working to break the cycle of disadvantage - same community-services adjacency but at significantly greater scale and operational maturity.
- Salvation Army Australia: Major Australian humanitarian and social services organization with comparable mission overlap (marginalized populations) but operates at vastly greater scale with institutional infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Who Gives a Crap: Australian social enterprise selling everyday consumer products (toilet paper) with proceeds funding sanitation and hygiene charities - the closest direct analog to Igniting Change's product-as-fundraising model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Igniting Change social profiles
Digital presenceIgniting Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Igniting Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Igniting Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Igniting Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Igniting Change
What does Igniting Change do?
Igniting Change is a deliberately small Australian charity that supports 38 community organisations tackling injustice, inequality and disadvantage by amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. It generates revenue through an online store selling branded merchandise (books, notebooks and handmade jewellery), with proceeds supporting its charitable work. The organisation also runs the Igniting Change Podcast hosted by Celia Hirsh and an Online Visits Program that bridges the gap between people experiencing problems and those who can help.
Is Igniting Change a public or private company?
Igniting Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Igniting Change founded?
Igniting Change was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Igniting Change based?
Igniting Change is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Igniting Change make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail merchandise sales.
Who are Igniting Change's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Beyond Blue, ReachOut Australia and RUOK?. Direct peers are OzHarvest, Pilotlight Australia and Comic Relief (UK). Broad incumbents are Australian Red Cross, The Smith Family and Salvation Army Australia. Who Gives a Crap is listed as an emerging player.
Does Igniting Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Igniting Change.